The Kortni Alston Lemon Media (KALM) Institute for Workplace Wellbeing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to caring for the people behind the headlines and broadcasts. Founded by Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon — a former news director and television reporter turned happiness scholar — KALM exists because too many journalists and media professionals are silently struggling with burnout, trauma, and stress.

For nearly a decade, Dr. Kortni has trained newsrooms across the country, witnessing firsthand how many organizations want to prioritize mental health but simply don’t have the resources. That’s why she made the bold decision to devote herself fully to launching KALM — to meet that urgent need.

In the clip above, Dr. Kortni is covering Hurricane Claudette. To reach her live shot, she crossed the Galveston Causeway in nearly 100 mph winds, barely able to see the flooded road. She drove alone to meet her photographer in the field, went live for her station, and later appeared on CNN.

What the image doesn’t show is the level of danger and invisible toll. For journalists, that kind of risk and trauma is often considered “just another day at work.”

According to the Dart Center, 80–100% of journalists experience work-related trauma. Imagine if Mental Health First Aid certification had been available in her newsroom that day. The support, care, and awareness could have made all the difference.

Our Mission & Vision

That’s why KALM exists — to ensure journalists, news leaders, and media professionals have the tools and training to care for themselves and one another. Through advocacy, research, and training programs — including Mental Health First Aid certification — KALM empowers media professionals to:

Recognize and respond to mental health challenges.
Prevent burnout and secondary trauma.
Build healthier, more resilient workplaces.

Our vision is clear and urgent: a compassionate media industry where those who inform and connect our communities can do so with strength, resilience, and well-being.

Impact Levels

Your support helps change the picture of media — whether through a one-time gift that makes an immediate impact, or a monthly gift that sustains lasting change.

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The Work in Action

Captured below is Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon at work — training media professionals to care for themselves and their teams. Every workshop, every certification, and every conversation is rooted in one goal: ensuring that the people who inform and connect our communities are not left to struggle alone.

The work is urgent. Across the media industry, professionals face relentless pressure, high stress, and exposure to trauma. Yet with the right training and resources, they can build resilience, protect their well-being, and strengthen the industry from the inside out.

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Supporters make this possible. Every gift — whether one-time or monthly — fuels this mission and helps KALM change the picture of media toward health and well-being.

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Together, we can create a future where media professionals flourish. Donate today.

Founders Circle: Strengthening Media Through Mental Health First Aid Certification

Every $170 certifies one media professional — help us reach 100 and build toward 1,000.

Team Members